The
health of the intestinal tract is of utmost importance for health
and well-being

Gut health is a
key focus of any nutritional therapy program.

Our
gut contains both beneficial (good) and non-beneficial (bad)
bacteria, together with yeasts and other organisms. These gut
microflora help to support good elimination and absorption of
nutrients, and to remove toxins and support the immune
system.

People
born by caesarean section miss out on good bacteria from the
mother’s birth canal, and not receiving colostrum, the ‘first milk’
that is expressed in the days following birth, puts people at a
huge disadvantage when it comes to establishing good microflora.
The state of the mother’s microflora will also have an effect but
even with a good bacterial start in life, the balance between good
and bad bacteria can be upset in many ways, including:

Antibiotics
– indiscriminately destroy all the bacteria in the body as the way
of fighting disease. Whilst antibiotics are sometimes necessary
they are often over used and advice is not given as to how to
replace the good bacteria.

High
intake of sugar and processed carbohydrates, and highly
processed/sterilised foods.

Over
use of cleaning products, especially anti-bacterial soaps, shampoos
and creams.

Chlorinated
drinking water because chlorine destroys bacteria, whether good or
bad.

Wide
spread pesticide and herbicide use.

Exposure
to pollutants such as heavy metals, including amalgam dental
fillings.

Anti-cholesterol
drugs.

Increased
use and variety of vaccinations.

The most
effective way to increase the level of good bacteria in the gut is
to add more probiotic foods to the diet, such as live yoghurt,
sauerkraut and kefir. This may not always be possible and probiotic
supplements are a good alternative, especially after taking
antibiotics or other medication. Not all probiotics are equal and
we tend to get what we pay for in terms of quality. Things to
consider:

More
bacteria are not as important as the number of strains, because
many strains work synergistically to support health.

How
the product is packaged and delivered – the bacteria need to be
kept alive until they are swallowed and reach the gut. A company
that is willing to explain how their product works will most likely
have a product that works. The probiotics need to be protected from
too much exposure to light, heat, and moisture.

Expiry
dates – provides reassurance that the probiotics will remain active
and potent.

Money-back
guarantee – is evidence that companies truly believe in their
products and will stand by them.

Lactobacillus Species reside in the small intestine and
produce lactase, which helps to breakdown lactose, the sugars in
dairy products. They create lactic acid and an acidic gut
environment, discouraging unwanted micro-organisms and helping
absorption of minerals, such as calcium, copper, magnesium, and
iron.

L. acidophilus:
colonises most densely in the small intestine, maintains the
integrity of the intestinal wall and supports nutrient absorption
and overall digestive function. Helps with symptoms of IBS, immune
health and urinary and vaginal health in women.

L. fermentum:
important for overall digestion and detoxification.

L. rhamnosus:
good for traveller’s diarrhoea, ability to survive passage through
the gastrointestinal system and is thought to be among the
best Lactobacillus strains for vaginal health.

Bifidobacterium Species line the walls of the
large intestine (colon) and help to ward off harmful
microorganisms, including yeast. Like Lactobacillus species they
produce lactic acid and also produce B-complex vitamins and vitamin
K.

B. longum: good
for overall digestion, detoxification and immune health, and have
anti-oxidant properties.

B. bifidum: prevent the growth of unwanted bacteria, moulds,
and yeasts by naturally adhering to the intestinal mucosa better
than other bacterial strains. Good for overall digestion, nutrient
absorption and relief from occasional diarrhoea, especially when
travelling.

B. infantis: good for overall digestion and relief from
occasional bloating and constipation.

Introducing Supplements

Slowly does it!

Probiotic supplements will start to restore
the balance of good to bad bacteria in the gut. In doing so they
will kill bad bacteria, yeasts and other unhelpful micro-organisms.
Supplements are more concentrated than food sources of probiotics
and will do this more quickly, as will supplements with high
numbers of beneficial bacteria.

The
dead micro-organisms need to be removed from the body and this can
only be achieved as quickly as the liver and gut can process them.
To avoid detoxification symptoms, such as headache, aches and
pains, cold symptoms and fatigue, it is important to introduce
probiotics at a pace that the body can cope with.
Unless under
the supervision of a nutrition professional, chose probiotic
products that contain moderate numbers of probiotics and introduce
them slowly, perhaps one every other day to start
with.

If
taking antibiotics, take probiotics about 5 hours away from taking
the antibiotics, and take probiotics for about 2 months after a
course of antibiotics. It will not harm the body to take a moderate
intensity probiotic daily indefinitely.

Reputable Brands

There are very many companies selling probiotics
and to determine the best product for you it may be worth seeing a
nutrition professional.

As a general rule the more expensive products are the more
effective ones.

Probiotic products may not suit everyone
and so listen to your body and be prepared to try another brand if
necessary.

A
few popular and good quality brands that are easy to obtain
include, but are not limited to:

Cytoplan

Biocare

Lamberts

Nutri-Advanced

Solgar

Veridian

When booking a nutritional consultation, 10%
discount is available on all supplements purchased.